Fujifilm X-E3 updates X Series mirrorless compact

The current refresh of Fujifilm’s X Mount mirrorless camera line-up is completed with the arrival of the X-E3, replacing the X-E2S and incorporating the latest 24.3 megapixels ‘X-Trans CMOS III’ sensor and ‘X Processor Pro’ image engine.

The X-E3 is a rangefinder style model, but unlike the X-Pro2 has an exclusively electronic viewfinder which is a 1.0 cm OLED-type panel with 2.36 megadots resolution. The magnesium alloy bodyshell is similarly styled to the previous model, but now omits a built-in flash and instead a compact accessory unit is supplied.

Twin milled aluminium control dials are retained for setting shutter speeds and exposure compensation, but the latter now has the ‘C’ position to access corrections beyond +/-3.0 EV and up to +/-5.0 EV. The LCD monitor screen is still fixed, but now offers touch controls, including for autofocusing. A new ‘Touch Function’ facility allows for custom functions to be assigned to the up/down and left/right swipe actions.

The X-E3 has Fujifilm’s latest hybrid contrast/phase detection autofocusing system which has 325 measuring points for wider coverage, 169 of them using phase-different detection. The new processor enables an AF speed of just 0.06 seconds and a new image recognition algorithm helps improve subject tracking with smaller and/or faster-moving objects. Continuous shooting is possible at up to 8.0 fps. The shutter speed range is 30-1/4000 second with the camera’s focal plane shutter, but extends up to 1/32,000 second with the sensor shutter which also allows for silent shooting.

The X-E3 steps up to 4K video recording in the Ultra HD resolution of 3840x2160 pixels and at 24 or 25 fps (PAL standard) with stereo sound, Full HD footage can be recorded at 24, 25 or 50 fps. There’s a stereo audio input for connecting an external microphone and a clean, uncompressed video output is available via the HDMI connection. WiFi connectivity is supplemented with Bluetooth LE support (a first on an X Mount camera) for easier pairing with mobile devices.

Along with the X-E3, Fujifilm has launched a new X Mount lens; the XF80mm f2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro. This is a true 1:1 (i.e. lifesize) macro lens and the focal length is equivalent to 122mm in the 35mm format. It has a weather-proofed construction and the optical

design comprises 16 elements, including one aspherical type to reduce distortion with two ‘Super ED’ and three ED extra-low dispersion types to minimise chromatic aberrations. Optical image stabilisation gives up to five stops of correction for camera shake. The new 80mm macro brings the Fujinon X Mount system up to 25 lenses, but with more to come in the shapes of the XF8-16mm f2.8 R LM WR wide-angle zoom (equivalent to 12-24mm) and the XF200mm f2.0 R LM OIS WR telephoto prime (equivalent to 300mm).

The Fujifilm X-E3 is priced at $1799 packaged with the XF23mm f2.0 prime lens.

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